Kataka late strike earn Posta victory over Zoo

Super sub Geoffrey Kataka scored the only goal to give Posta Rangers a 1-0 win over Zoo Kericho in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match played on Monday afternoon, at the Ruaraka Grounds.

The win leapt Rangers to fifth on the 18-team log with 46 points, two below Kakamega Homeboyz and Sofapaka tied at second position.

Zoo, on their part, remain 14th with 35 points, with only four rounds of matches remaining.

Rangers Assistant Coach George Maina was a relieved man after the match, saying the win is in line with their target to finish in respectable position.

“I’m happy although we scored at the stoppage. It tells you the substitution worked. We played well especially in the first half but it appeared the so many chances we created were against us.

“It is important to win ahead of tough fixtures we have (Western Stima and Mathare United), who are fighting to escape relegation axe. We know they are tough, and that’s good for us as we go to prepare,” told Maina.

Maina has been the main man on Rangers touchline since the suspension of head coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo.

His counterpart Sammy Okoth regretted the late goal, saying the least he deserved was a draw.

“We should not have gone home empty handed. We fought well all through but that one mistake waters down the value of our effort in the entire match.

“We also had opportunities to score, but when we couldn’t score we should then have avoided that goal,” Okoth offered.

It was a tough encounter both teams having a fair share of chances, but none of them would be converted out of defensive discipline on either ends.

But just at the stoppage, Kataka connected a sumptuous cross in the box past a diving goalkeeper Vincent Misikhu, for his second goal of the season.